Cumulative bioluminescence. A potential rapid test of drilling fluid toxicity. Development study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1992

Abstract

A new rapid test of drilling fluid toxicity is based on the spontaneous bioluminescence of Pyrocystis lunula, an easy-to-culture alga that vigorously responds to shear stress (mixing) by emitting a sharp burst of light. In contrast to other bioluminescence methods, a cumulative flux of light is measured with a photomultiplier that eliminates the effect of exposure time on test results. Light quenching, caused by the presence of a toxicant, results in the dose/response relationship (DSR) typical for the enzymatic reaction kinetics. The Michaelis-Menten (dissociation) constant is used as a direct measure of toxicity. The evaluation study involved multiple experiments with 60 samples of drilling fluids from the U.S. gulf coast, as well as such typical toxicants as diesel oil, mineral oil, and chrome lignosulfonate (CLS). The results of the test error analysis and comparisons with the Microtox and Mysid shrimp assays are reported.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

SPE drilling engineering

First Page

39

Last Page

46

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